Hero at Home: Big Wheels Keep on Turning, part II

For the second Sunday in our 108 Days of OHMazing™ Journeys in honor of the release of our new DVD, Vishnu's OHMazing™ Journeys, I will continue to reflect on the internal wheels in our bodies, also known as chakras. Here I would like to expand on our conversation with you about how we can activate these centers to make heroic—or OHMazing™—choices. These ideas are appropriate for heroes of all ages.

Last week we explored the first chakra, Muladhara. This week our focus is on the second energy center, also known as Swadhisthana or Sacral Chakra. It is located in the last bone in spinal cord or the coccyx.

Swadisthana is connected with basic emotional needs and pleasure. It governs reproduction, creativity, and joy. Sharon Gannon, co-founder of Juvamukti Yoga, says that our second chakra is connected to our outter body below our navel at our hips and pelvis.  

"Forward bending gives us the opportunity to move into our past for

The second chakra is represented
by a crescent moon, with six
orange petals, within a lotus.

reflection and healing through the letting go of resentful feelings we may be holding against past sexual or creative partners," writes Gannon on the Jivamukti Yoga Center website.

While there are numerous forward bends to cultivate awareness and healing within the Swadisthana chakra, one of our favorite poses—or asanas— is a forward bending Butterfly/Mariposa/Baddha Konasana.

Andersen, age 4, demonstrates one of her
favorite poses, baddha konasana.

• Sit with legs stretched out in front of you.
• Inhale.
  Exhale, bending knees and bring soles of feet together, bringing heels as close to your seat or pelvis as possible
• Press your fingertips or "spider fingers" into the earth by your hips.
• Root your tailbone or coccyx down into the earth, extend your heart forward and rise up through the crown of your head.
  Hold onto feet with a straight back. 
• Inhale
• Exhale, hinging at hips and moving your extended heart toward the earth.
• Hold asana for several breaths, inhaling and exhaling slowly.
• As you inhale, use your mind's eye to pull your prana (breath) into your Sacral area and hips. As you exhale, allow your breath to release any tightness and resentful feelings. 

  

There are many components of the 8 Limbs of yoga that encourage us to explore  our second chakra. Share your practice below!

Beth and Meredith on the red carpet at the
world premiere of the 2nd DVD,
Vishnu's OHMazing™ Journeys,
created in partnership with the
Crow Collection of Asian Art.

Elizabeth "Beth" Reese, Ph.D., RYT, RCYT, is the founder and executive director of Yogiños: Yoga for Youth®. She is a teacher with over 20 years of experiences leading learners of all ages in creative problem solving, self-reflection and empowerment.